Phoenix Suns Win 2018 NBA Draft Lottery

CHICAGO — For the first time in franchise history, the Phoenix Suns were awarded the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, winning the 2018 NBA Draft Lottery held tonight in Chicago. The Suns had a 25.0 percent probability of winning the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, highest of any team participating in the Lottery.

“This is a historic night for the Phoenix Suns,” said General Manager Ryan McDonough. “Those of us in the room in Chicago felt the tension, then it was an unbelievable feeling to see it revealed that we received the No. 1 selection. In the illustrious history of the franchise, we’ve never had the first overall pick and to bring it home in such a loaded draft at an important point in time for our franchise, it’s incredible.”

The Suns, who will draft for the 51st time this year, have never before drafted higher than second overall, most recently selecting Armen Gilliam with the second pick of the 1987 NBA Draft. The Suns also used the second overall pick to select Neal Walk in 1969, given the No. 2 pick on March 19, 1969, after losing a coin flip with Milwaukee to determine which team received the No. 1 pick and, eventually, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The Suns were represented on stage at the lottery by forward Josh Jackson, who ranked second among NBA rookies by averaging 17.2 points after New Year’s this past season. The fourth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Jackson ended the season by scoring at least 15 points in each of his final 12 games, the longest such streak by a Suns rookie since Walter Davis in 1978.

The Suns will have the first overall pick in NBA Draft 2018, which will be held on Thursday, June 21 (7 p.m. ET) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.